They and the thousands of home volunteers – all known as Games Makers because of the importance of their work – were praised for their role in making London 2012 a truly great Games.

Sochi sent 80 volunteers (pictured above) from Russia to London, who collectively completed 1,000 shifts totaling 8,000 hours.

As well as supporting the London 2012 Organising Committee team, the Games provided Sochi volunteers with some excellent work experience in a diverse range of activities – from translating at press conferences to accompanying athletes to the doping control area.

Of the Sochi volunteers' involvement at London 2012, Sochi 2014 President and chief executive Dmitry Chernyshenko said: "Sochi 2014 has every right to be proud of its volunteer team.

"They worked extremely hard, but the atmosphere and drive of the Olympic Games have kept them going and enabled them to keep delivering amazing work to help make the Games a success.

"Our volunteers proved that they could work well as a team and I have no doubt that this team will be operating at its peak in 2014!"

London 2012 officially recognised the role of all Games volunteers during the Closing Ceremony

Volunteers will share their experiences with colleagues at the 26 Sochi 2014 Volunteer Centres across Russia; ensuring that that volunteers' insights and useful information benefit Sochi. 

George Pirtskhelava, a Sochi 2014 volunteer said of his London 2012 experience: "I was struck by the respect everyone has here for the volunteers and the work they do.

"Before the Games started we felt like members of one big friendly team – especially after we were given a full set of uniform, containing not just clothes but all sorts of nice surprises: a watch, a bag, a drinks flask and an umbrella with the Games logo, and also some souvenir badges and a volunteer's diary.

"It's a pity, in a way, that all this is already part of Olympic history!"

A further 24 Sochi 2014 volunteers will be working at the Paralympic Games which are due to begin on August 29.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
June 2012: Sochi 2014 starts interview process for volunteers
May 2012: British Foreign Secretary meets Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Sochi 2014 volunteers
February 2012: Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics attracts volunteers from overseas
February 2012: Sochi 2014 receive 34,000 volunteer applications following launch of recruitment drive
February 2012: Sochi 2014 launches recruitment scheme to find 25,000 Games time volunteers